Environmental groups still need Giving Days donations to help clean Indian River Lagoon
TCPalm's "Giving Days: Save Our Lagoon" fundraising series for 2023 helped raise over $40,000 for Treasure Coast environmental nonprofits that focus on the Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie River.
Five of the 10 featured nonprofits received their holiday wish, but two received only partial funding and three received nothing. There's still time to help all these clean-water advocates — and with Lake Okeechobee discharges having started on Feb. 17, there's no better time than now to donate.
The annual series has raised over $250,000 — that we know of — since TCPalm launched it in 2018, plus in-kind donations that include at least: 60 binoculars; 6 canoes, 3 kayaks, 2 boat trailers, a golf cart, truck tires; 3 microscopes, a centrifuge, depth finder, brush cutter, gardening supplies, tree seedlings/acorns; computers, software, monitors, accounting services; CCA-Florida license plate sales; and volunteers to plant trees and improve scrub jay habitat.
The original "12 Days of Christmas" series featured 12 nonprofits from Dec. 25 through Jan. 6, but in 2023, TCPalm renamed it "Giving Days" and published 10 stories from Nov. 27-Dec. 1 and Dec. 4-8.
Here's how you can help the organizations now and all year long:
NONPROFITS THAT RECEIVED NOTHING
Environmental Learning Center
Wish: To help pay for upkeep and expansion of Discovery Center aquariums and touch tanks including feeding the fish there.
Cost: $24,000 (or $2,000 a month for 12 months)
How to donate: Contact Executive Director Barbara Schlitt Ford at Barb@DiscoverELC.org or 772-589-5050
Ocean Research & Conservation Association
Wish: New autoclave, air clean system station and other laboratory equipment
Cost: $20,000
How to donate: teamorca.org/donate or contact spokesperson Lauren Tracy at ltracy@teamorca.org or 772-562-9052
CCA-Florida Treasure Coast
Wish: 140,000 seed clams to distribute near seagrass beds
Cost: $10,000 or smaller increments
How to donate: Contact Frank Gidus at fgidus@ccaflorida.org or ccaflorida.org or 407-401-7673
NONPROFITS THAT RECEIVED ONLY PARTIAL FUNDING
These two nonprofits received a combined $10,250, but still need a combined $29,750.
Manatee Observation and Education Center
Wish: Cover transportation and program material costs for 1,000 students to participate in an Indian River Lagoon education curriculum
Raised: $250 of $20,000 requested
How to donate: Contact Jessica Kadie Barclay at donate@manateeeducationcenter.org or 772-429-6266 ext. 3339
Pelican Island Audubon Society
Wish: Buy educational signs and complete the replacement of an old split-rail fence
Raised: $10,000 of $20,000 requested
How to donate: PelicanIslandAudubon.org or call 772-567-3520 or mail checks payable to Pelican Island Audubon Society at P.O. Box 1833, Vero Beach, FL 32961.
NONPROFITS THAT RECEIVED FULL FUNDING
These five nonprofits received a combined $43,320.
Click on the link to see what they wanted and how that will help with their mission.
Florida Oceanographic Society, Stuart
Friends of the Everglades, Stuart
Environmental Studies Center, Jensen Beach
Indian RiverKeeper, Stuart
St. Lucie County Reef Builders, Fort Pierce
Ed Killer is a TCPalm columnist who writes about the outdoors and environment. He is proud to pick up the Giving Days torch from former reporters Tyler Treadway and Max Chesnes. Email him at ed.killer@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Clean water: Environmental groups still need Giving Days donations
